The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides the mandate and funding to schools for in-school special education services as well as transportation/ buses to school, physical, occupational, speech therapy, and tutoring

College

Accommodations Model

You must request help; no one will come to find you.

Where you receive services

Differs from one every to another (“Office of Disability Support Services,” “Disabled Student Services,” “Special Services”,…)

Select the colleges you’d consider attending (important tip: do NOT chose schools by the amount of services that offer; make your initial selections based on whether the school offers the programs of study that most interest you)

Visit each campus (make sure to meet the person(s) in charge of the Office of Disability Services)

Do your homework!

Consider:

What services/programs each prospective college provides through their disability support office or other office that handles disability accommodations?

How often are services available? Are the service providers on campus and available on as as-needed basis?

Are there restrictions (e.g. times per week) or additional costs for using these services?

5. Apply—Good luck!

KNOWING YOUR OPTIONS

All colleges are required by law to provide accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Some colleges offer specialized programs that are highly structured and include a wide range of academic and behavioral supports. Other colleges offer support services that are less intensive and that require students to ‘take the lead’ in monitoring their progress and managing their special needs on campus.

Programs vs. Support Services

Programs are specifically designed for students with disabilities and provide more in-depth services and accommodations. Not all colleges have these types of programs. When offered, the most common types are designed for students with learning disabilities and/or ADHD. These programs usually have costs in addition to tuition. These programs often provide one-on-one tutoring and sessions with a learning disability specialist.

Support Services are the resources available at no cost for students with disabilities. Support services include reasonable accommodations, such as extended time for assignment and testing, note-takers, the use of a calculator, and preferential seating in classrooms.